Oct.25 (GMM) McLaren figures have vehemently denied claims that Lewis Hamilton's finger trouble cost the British rookie the 2007 title in Brazil last Sunday.



The Canadian newspaper La Presse reportedly quoted 22-year-old Hamilton this week as admitting that he pressed a button on his steering wheel during the Interlagos race that selected neutral and left him without power for half a minute.



Spanish sports newspaper Marca told a similar story on Thursday, claiming that the button Hamilton pushed was coloured yellow and activated the pit lane speed limiter.



On-board replays of the incident depict Hamilton, 22, pressing a green button with his left thumb, which according to photographs is marked 'N' (for neutral).



In Thursday's edition of Bild-Zeitung, however, Mercedes-Benz competition director Norbert Haug denies the claims.



"No, it was not Lewis' mistake. At the moment we suspect a problem of a (gearbox) control valve."



A McLaren spokeswoman elaborated: "It was due to a default in the gearbox that selected neutral for a period of time.



"It was not as a result of Lewis pressing an incorrect button on his steering wheel," she added.



McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh explained: "It would appear that the barrels that change gear went out of control - and out of control of the driver - and that's probably hydraulic."



Even Hamilton contradicted the reports.



He told Bild: "That is total rubbish!"